Positional preview: D-line holds key to dominance up front

It's no secret that the Steelers' offense has to improve in order for this team to get back into the playoffs. However, with the money invested on the other side of the ball, the defense must be one of the better units in the league. 

And, despite some questions on the interior, the strength of the defense starts up front in the trenches.

Welcome to the fourth edition of our 2024 positional preview, in which we will break down the roster to get you ready for that wonderful first training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.

Throughout this series, we'll take a look back at how each position fared in 2023, how that position was addressed in the offseason and wrap up with how it looks heading into 2024. Of course, the roster can still go through changes between now and when it's cut to 53 players. But, this will offer an understanding of how the team is shaping up.

2023 IN REVIEW

The first level of the defense was affected in different ways in 2023. T.J. Watt, the team's best player and one of the most dangerous players in the game overall, had a season that we've come to expect from the superstar edge rusher. And it was refreshing to see Watt appear in all 17 games after he was limited to 10 games in 2022.

Watt led the NFL with 19 sacks, the third time in in the past four years he's led the league. He also forced four fumbles, recovered three fumbles, recorded eight passes defensed, picked off one pass and scored one touchdown. Watt also tied his career high with 68 tackles, 19 of them for loss.

Though he didn't face Watt in 2023 due to injury, Joe Burrow recently described how teams have to prepare for Watt differently than any other defender.

"T.J. is a unique player in this league," Burrow said on the Pardon My Take podcast. "There's no other defensive lineman that I have to treat like a (defensive back). Like, I have to be conscious about where he's at because he's just going to jump up and catch it."

Just as he has before, Watt found different ways to impact games. Perhaps the greatest example was this interception against the Rams:

In today's NFL, outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense are pretty much considered defensive linemen due to majority of defenses operating primarily with four down linemen. When the Steelers are in their nickel defense, which they are in the majority of the time, it's two interior linemen and two edge rushers up front. That's why people such as Burrow refer to Watt as a defensive linemen.

So, when the Steelers choose to operate in their base 3-4 defense, Watt can line up out wide like he did on this play and make plays that other edge rushers, defensive ends -- whatever you want to call them -- simply cannot make.

All while making plays outside of racking up sacks, Watt still brought the opposing quarterback to the ground more than anyone else in the game. In doing so, he became the first player to lead the league in sacks in three different seasons since 1970. But because so many who cover the game right now are beyond fascinated with stats such as pass rush win rate, Watt finished runner up to Myles Garrett for Defensive Player of the Year.

Alex Highsmith regressed in the sack department, recording only seven sacks one season after putting up a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022. However, Highsmith still got home plenty with 18 quarterback hits, just two less than the previous season. And, Highsmith also intercepted two passes, the first of which resulted in his first NFL touchdown:

Together, Watt and Highsmith still remained one of the league's premier duos at edge rusher. However, the interior of the defensive line was dealt a huge blow right away and never fully recovered.

Cam Heyward, the heart, soul and leader of the defense, played a whole 13 snaps before suffering a serious groin injury on this 14th snap of the season opener. The injury cost him six games to recover from surgery, then hampered him as he essentially played on one leg for the remainder of the season. 

Heyward recorded just two sacks on the season, the lowest of his career since 2012 when he wasn't even a starter. His 33 tackles and six tackles for loss were also his lowest marks since the 2016 season when he was limited to just seven games.

Due to Heyward's injury, other interior defenders were forced to step up. For starters, Larry Ogunjobi wound up playing more than expected, logging 767 snaps, the most of any of the team's defensive linemen, and his most since 2019. Ogunjobi recorded three sacks, 43 tackles (three for loss), one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Another lineman that was forced to step up, and a bit earlier than expected, was rookie Keeanu Benton. The second-rounder was known more for his pass-rushing prowess in college, and immediately became a guy who could help create pressure despite being a nose tackle.

In 2023, Benton recorded 14 hurries, seven quarterback hits and two passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. While comparing those numbers to the likes of Ogunjobi, they don't seem very significant. However, Benton recorded his numbers while playing 198 fewer pass rush snaps. And, even for the analytic nerds that hold Pro Football Focus' pass rush win rate in such high esteem, Benton had won 10.5% of his pass rush reps compared to Ogunjobi's 8.4%.

Fellow rookie Nick Herbig was primarily used on special teams, but made the most of the defensive snaps he was given. Despite playing only 74 pass rush snaps in 2023, Herbig recorded five hurries and three sacks. And, once again bowing to the almighty pass rush win rate, Herbig won 18.2% of his pass rushes. For comparison, Highsmith had a win rate of 18% and Watt had a win rate of 16.9%, while obviously playing far more snaps and attracting far more attention than Herbig.

With positive contributions from Montravius Adams and Armon Watts as well, the Steelers' defensive front seemed to have enough pieces to be a formidable group. But, the numbers didn't necessarily prove true. The defense tied for 11th with 47 sacks, finishing 13 behind the Ravens' league-leading 60 sacks. In addition, the team finished 19th in the NFL against the run, allowing 115.1 yards per game.

However, the failure against the run could be chalked up to Heyward's absence. Through the first seven games of the season (the game in which Heyward was injured plus the six games he subsequently missed), the Steelers allowed 137.1 rushing yards per game. From the time Heyward returned through the end of the season, even though he was far from 100%, the defense allowed only 99.6 rushing yards per game. That kind of a number over the course of the season would have ranked in the top 10.

All in all, it wasn't the season this defensive front wanted. The injury to Heyward was painful for him and the team, and the defense regressed in their run defense. It wasn't the only reason why the defense finished in the middle of the pack, but we all know by now success on defense starts up front in the trenches.

THE OFFSEASON

While Watt was robbed of a second Defensive Player of the Year award, Heyward was finally named the Walter Payton Man of the Year. It's an award that Heyward should have already won prior to this year, but seeing him finally earn that honor was a great way to end a challenging season.

In terms of roster turnover, the Steelers saw Watts and Markus Golden leave via free agency. Watts signed with the Patriots and Golden remains a free agent just a couple weeks out from the start of training camp. 

In place of Watts, the Steelers signed veteran Dean Lowry, who can come in with nine years of NFL experience and contribute primarily in run defense and help push the pocket in the pass rush.

The Steelers also selected Logan Lee out of Iowa in the sixth round of the draft. Lee has the prototypical size of a defensive end in the 3-4 defense (6-5, 291 pounds). Veterans Breiden Fehoko and Jonathan Marshall were also brought back for another training camp with the team.

The only troubling part of the offseason up front has been the speculation surrounding Heyward's contract. He's entering the final season of his four-year, $65.6-million contract, carrying a $22.4-million cap hit in 2024. Both Heyward and the Steelers are interested in an extension, which could lower that cap hit a bit depending on how an extension is structured. But, as of the time this article is published, the two sides do not appear close to an agreement.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024

After being snubbed for the second time in four years for Defensive Player of the Year, expect Watt to play as motivated as ever. He might have to make history in order to have a legitimate chance of winning the award for the second time in his career, but we could see that right away.

Watt enters the 2024 season with a franchise record 96.5 sacks in just 104 career games. He could become the second-fastest player in NFL history to reach 100 sacks if he can record 3.5 sacks within the first two games of the season. Reggie White has the record in an astounding 96 games, while Lawrence Taylor did it in 106 games.

Regardless, the defense is only at its best when Watt is playing and clicking on all cylinders.

Whether he gets an extension or not, Heyward is out to prove a lot of people wrong. There have been many fans that think the 35-year-old Heyward should be either cut or traded, or at least think he should take a pay cut. But on thing's certain: Heyward is as motivated as ever to prove he can not only still play, but play at the level at which Pittsburgh fans have seen throughout the course of his career. In fact, Heyward still believes he can be a top-five guy at his position.

One way Heyward can stay healthy is if Benton makes a big leap in his second NFL season. Yes, he's a nose tackle by trade, but has the athleticism to play multiple techniques along the defensive line. Despite only having one sack as a rookie, Benton has the tools to be a guy that can put up more sacks at this level.

But, what would really help Benton become a mainstay up front is if he can grow as a run stopper. He showed flashes of that down the stretch, including the loss to the Bills in the wild card round:

Watch Benton absorb the double team, hold his ground, then once the tackle peels off to block Elandon Roberts on the second level, Benton beats the guard to snatch James Cook with one arm, tackling him for a minimal gain of three yards. Benton growing into a guy that can help stop the run could do wonders.

Should Benton make a massive jump in his second season, Mike Tomlin can better monitor Heyward's snaps to keep him fresh. And should Heyward bounce back and get back to being the player we know, then Benton could very well supplant Ogunjobi as the second option in sub-packages. 

Expect the Steelers to remain one of the league's best at edge rusher. Watt is still the best defensive player in the game. Highsmith will turn 27 before the season starts, and is showing little signs of regressing overall as a player, regardless of the sack numbers last season.

The main question here revolves around Heyward. Of course, if there's a player you don't want to bet against, it's Heyward. But, at 35 years old and coming off not one but two groin surgeries, even the slightest concern is valid that his best days are behind him.

A breakout year for Benton would be a game-changer. Should he become a monster inside, the Steelers might have the guy that can take the mantle from Heyward. And, if Benton breaks out and Heyward returns to form, the Steelers might have one of the best defensive fronts in football. But, overall, there are valid questions that need answers before any such statements can become an actual possibility.

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART

Interior Defenders:
• Cam Heyward
• Larry Ogunjobi
• Keeanu Benton
• Montravius Adams
• Dean Lowry
• DeMarvin Leal
• Logan Lee

Heyward, Ogunjobi and Benton are locks here, with Benton having a big opportunity to take snaps away from the other two. Adams looked really good before suffering a midseason injury last year, and he'd be a solid depth option here, with Lowry also providing more veteran depth.

As for the two final spots (the Steelers typically carry seven defensive linemen), I have a hard time believing both DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk earn roster spots. Both are so far off the radar, only Leal might have more chances left since he was drafted more recently. Thus, I have Lee earning the final spot at this position as a guy who can contribute right away on special teams, and perhaps even block a field goal.

Edge Rushers:
• T.J. Watt
• Alex Highsmith
• Nick Herbig
• Jeremiah Moon

The top three here are a slam dunk, and I'd be very intrigued to see Herbig step up as the third edge rusher. But, it wouldn't surprise me if Omar Khan added a veteran again. As previously stated, Golden is still a free agent. Maybe run it back with the same foursome from a season ago, a group that combined for 33 sacks.

For now, I've got Moon as the fourth guy here, who's spent the past two season on the Ravens' practice squad with eight NFL games under his belt. But, Moon, David Perales, Kyron Johnson and Julius Welschof could have an intense battle during training camp.

2024 STEELERS POSITIONAL PREVIEW SERIES

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver/Tight End
• Offensive line

And coming soon ...

• Inside linebacker 
• Secondary 
• Special teams